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Tifa is contrary to national interest
20-Mar-2005
Bangladesh will lose its right to speak for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) if it signs the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa) with the United States, economists at a discussion said yesterday.
India signs free trade deal with South American bloc
20-Mar-2005 AFP
India has signed a free trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc to boost trade. The trade agreement flows from the customs duty accord and now grants reciprocal tariff reductions on 450 items and greater market access.
What’s happening with the FTAA negotiations?
19-Mar-2005 HardBeatNews
By becoming an associate member of Mercosur, Cuba, at least indirectly, may have some influence in how the FTAA is finally formulated.
Iran signs first free trade agreement
19-Mar-2005 Mehr News
Iran’s first free trade agreement was signed during President Mohammad Khatami’s recent visit to Venezuela, said here Tuesday, Economy Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari.
Two die in Guatemala free trade protests
18-Mar-2005 Indybay (with photos)
Two people were killed and many injured as violence broke out during protests in Guatemala on Tuesday 15 March when President Oscar Berge ratified the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
Malaysia recommended for FTA talks with US
18-Mar-2005
Malaysia is among five countries that the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has recommended that the US administration explore the possibility of negotiating free trade agreements (FTA) with.
Trade, development, cooperation - what future for Africa?
18-Mar-2005
Bi- and multilateral trade relations between external actors and individual African states or regional blocs are becoming ever more decisive. The trade policies of both the USA and the EU are anything but helpful.
US urges Philippines to sign FTA
17-Mar-2005 AFP
US Assistant Trade Representative Barbara Weisel urged the Philippines to sign a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Washington to boost its underperforming economy and keep it globally competitive.
Corporate conquest, global geopolitics: Intellectual property rights and bilateral investment treaties
17-Mar-2005 Seedling
Examines how bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements which contain specific investment provisions reflect geopolitical concerns and redefine rights and privileges for transnational corporations, including with respect to commercial control over biodiversity through intellectual property rights.
Costa Rica rules out immediate ratification of FTA with US
17-Mar-2005 Xinhua
Costa Rica on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of an immediate ratification of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Central America and the United States due to pressure from economic and social sectors.
S. Korean fruit growers hurt by S. Korea-Chile FTA
17-Mar-2005 Yonhap
South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said 12,644 local peach, kiwi and grape farms across the country have decided to halt operations since the FTA’s ratification, indicating that the opening of the domestic market is taking a toll on the growers.
Speeding free trade
17-Mar-2005 Oxford Business Group
Washington wants to sign Free Trade Agreements with every country in the Middle East - North Africa region by 2013, to promote economic and political development in line with recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission.
Australia eyes free-trade deal with UAE as ’launchpad’ for access to Middle East
17-Mar-2005 Daily Star
Australia and the United Arab Emirates agreed Tuesday to begin negotiations on a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) that Canberra said would be a "launchpad" for expanded business opportunities across the Middle East.
Aussie BitTorrent case to test Aust-US FTA
17-Mar-2005 Zdnet Australia
Warner Music Australia and other record companies are suing ISP Swiftel Communications for copyright infringement for allegedly hosting and maintaining two Internet computer servers and a Web site called Archie’s Hub which deploys the BitTorrent application. The case is the first to test legislation passed to enact the Australian-United States Free Trade Agreement.
COMESA looks forward to cementing ties with China
17-Mar-2005 Xinhua
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretary General Erastus Mwencha said his organization is looking forward to strengthening its relations with China, particularly in the area of trade and investment. He declined to elaborate on details of the trade agreement, but implied that it will be something like the Economic Partnership Agreement being negotiated by COMESA with the European Union or the Africa Growth Opportunity Act of the United States.
UAE and Australia begin talks on FTA
17-Mar-2005 Gulf News
The UAE and Australia are about to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement, officials said at a press conference yesterday.
Bush taps congressman as US Trade Representative
17-Mar-2005 LA Times
Faced with tough political battles over a controversial trade pact with Central America and rising imports from China, President Bush announced today that he had enlisted a congressional insider and loyal supporter to be his new trade chief.
Mexico, EU to deepen FTA in services, farm, investment
16-Mar-2005
Mexico and the European Commission are evaluating proposals to deepen their free trade agreement in the areas of services, investment, and agriculture.
Guatemalan groups vow to continue protests against FTA
16-Mar-2005 Xinhua
Guatemalan grassroots organizations said on Tuesday that they will not give up protests against the Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA), ratified last week by the parliament.
Updates on developments in the Pacific
16-Mar-2005 Scoop
Governments within the Asia/Pacific region that are rabid free traders have embarked on a rescue mission for the WTO and APEC through regional and bilateral agreements that are also designed to be WTO-plus.